Dozens of United Auto Workers members and their supporters are showing solidarity with their union brethren as the strike expands against two of Detroit’s big three automakers. About 7,000 additional workers are hitting the picket lines Friday at Ford and General Motors facilities. Dan Maloney is president of UAW local 1097 in Rochester, but got his start as an apprentice here in Syracuse more than 30 years ago. He says the workers are on the right side of history.
“We're fighting to bring those jobs back to America and keep those factories here in the USA," Maloney said Wednesday during a rally on the steps of Syracuse City Hall. "That's why the American taxpayer bailed them out. The return on investment is American jobs, creating those next generation jobs.”
Maloney says it’s time for the companies to give back to the workers after the government bailout and concessions by workers during the recession. Wence Valentin III is the UAW’s Region 9 political director, which covers Western and Central New York. He says pay rates have not kept pace with the increasing cost of living, or vehicles.
“It's very hard to afford what we make," Valentin said. "We have people that work for GMCH in Rochester and Lockport. They top out at $23.00 an hour, so it's virtually impossible to afford our bigger vehicles that we make. A lot of our workers that work at that plant have two jobs.”
GMCH is the company’s Holden parts division. Valentin says pay there starts at minimum wage, and results in a high turnover rate. Kathy House is the surviving spouse of a UAW retiree, and told the crowd Wednesday that she wouldn’t be here without the union.
“I wouldn't have my home. I wouldn't have no place to live," House said. "When it came to his medical bills. I was faced with one that came to three-quarters of a million dollars that I was going to have to pay. But the way it was set up with the union, I got out of paying that.”
She says it’s unfair that the companies want to reduce or eliminate medical benefits and pensions. The expanded strike comes two weeks after workers first hit the picket lines.
